Tom Fetherstonhaugh was appointed Assistant Conductor in July 2022 after a rigorous audition process and since then has conducted a selection of key concerts throughout our season. He has also worked closely alongside Chief Conductor Kirill Karabits and visiting guest conductors, as well as across the community in conjunction with BSO Participate.

Next season, Tom will lead the BSO in concerts featuring soloists including Alim Beisembayev, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Eric Lu, Steven Osborne, István Várdai and Maria Włoszczowska. His performances span the orchestra’s year, and start with a tour of the South West with a programme that opens the BSO’s season.

Main season highlights include Rimsky Korsakov’s Scheherazade and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto no. 2. Tom’s final concert features Sibelius’ Symphony no. 7, Schumann’s Cello Concerto, Ives’ The Unanswered Question and Elgar’s Enigma Variations.

As well as appearing a number of times in the BSO’s main season at Lighthouse, Poole, Tom will work closely with BSO Participate, conducting eight ‘Explore the Orchestra’ schools’ concerts (Poole, Exeter, Portsmouth, Bristol), a SEND schools’ tour, a new community opera in Cornwall, and On Your Doorstep performances in smaller venues.

For BSO Pops, Tom will conduct the ever popular Last Night of the Christmas Proms (Poole, Exeter, Portsmouth), a concert of love-themed music for Valentine’s Day, and Classic FM Hall of Fame: a programme of favourites to include Gershwin’s An American in Paris (Poole, Exeter, Portsmouth).

Tom Fetherstonhaugh said “I’m thrilled to have been asked to spend another season with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra as their Assistant Conductor. We have an exciting year ahead, with over 30 concerts together in venues across the South West. Making music with this remarkable orchestra is a pure joy, and I am greatly looking forward to continuing and building on our musical relationship in 2023-24”

Tom made a memorable BSO debut in Weymouth (September 2022) at a significant moment in time; less than an hour before the concert it was announced that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had passed away. With the programme altered shortly before the performance (now to include ‘God Save the King’ and Elgar’s Nimrod), it was certainly a debut to remember.

Since then Tom has conducted a range of concerts with the BSO. This spring he led a concert featuring RNS Moves and BSO Resound which marked an important step forward towards a more inclusive orchestral world, with the two disabled-led groups working together and sharing the stage with the Orchestra. The combined musicians gave the world premiere of Kate Whitley’s Falling, jointly commissioned by the BSO and Sage Gateshead for the occasion. Tom also conducted performances with soloists Julian Bliss, Danny Driver, led the BSO in the Festival of Chichester with violinist Jennifer Pike, and performed four consecutive ‘Explore the Orchestra’ schools’ concerts this May.

Other highlights for Tom in addition to the BSO this current season are debuts with Ulster Orchestra (for BBC Radio 3) and Brandenburger Symphoniker, returns to The Grange Festival (as Assistant Conductor for the world premiere of David Matthews’ Anna) and to Antigua and Barbuda Youth Symphony Orchestra, and concerts with Fantasia Orchestra where he is Artistic Director.

We can’t wait to see and hear what the next year will bring for Tom! Watch this space…